Stories from Wednesday, May 12, 1993

Regional cooperation is a lofty aspiration, and those who espouse it must believe unity can be built and parochialism can be razed. But preaching the message of regional cooperation isn't enough; it takes faith in all parties involved. For that reason, we remain dismayed by the recent musings of Regional Commerce and Growth Association Executive Director Walt Wildman. His words violate any notion that barriers of old thinking have been broken down for the common good of the region...

JACKSON -- Children are never too young for good literature, says Wanda Borum, first grade teacher at Orchard Drive Elementary School in Jackson. Teaching the fundamentals of reading is necessary, but introducing children to books that spark their interest is the key to good reading...

Saddle up those Schwinns and round up the Huffys because the Cape Girardeau Area Safe Kids Coalition is hosting a bicycle rodeo Saturday at the bicycle Safety Village in Missouri Park. Kathy Magas, coordinator for the local Safe Kids Coalition, said this is the first year that the bicycle rodeo is being held at Safety Village...

Although I thought I was shock-proof when it comes to the misuse of language, a TV reporter all but traumatized me some weeks ago when she announced that a new employer "forbidded" his secretary to disclose he had raped her. I couldn't have heard wrong because "forbidden", used as a verb, requires an auxiliary such as have, has, or had...

With plenty of pomp and circumstance, the commencement season begins next week and continues through early June as seniors say goodbye to high school. Central High School seniors will graduate June 4 at 8 p.m. at the Show Me Center. The class of 1993 should include 281 students. University of Missouri-St. Louis Chancellor Blanche Touhill will be the speaker...

The Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce membership is over the 1,100 mark again following a one-day recruitment blitz Tuesday that resulted in at least 78 new members. "Our goal for the annual one-day membership drive was 60," said Linda Minner, administrative assistant for the chamber. "The initial count Tuesday evening shows us with 78 new paid memberships, which puts our membership at 1,128."...

Several area school superintendents say they have mixed feelings about the reforms contained in an education funding bill approved by the Missouri House Monday. They said they will wait until a conference committee completes its work to make final judgments...

Despite her entrance on crutches after spraining her ankle playing basketball, Keshia Knight Pulliam was warmly welcomed Tuesday night by the chants and cheers of 25 fifth-grade students from area schools. Pulliam, who played Rudi on NBC's comedy series "The Cosby Show," was welcomed by the students as they presented her with red, pink or yellow roses and shook her hand. Several asked for her autograph...

Community Counseling Center will have a free presentation May 26 from 6:30-8 p.m. in the Harris Room of the center. The topic "The Road Less Traveled" will be presented by Gary Koch. It is a presentation regarding changes. Admission is free to everyone. Registration is appreciated. Call Connie Enderle at Community Counseling Center, 402 S. Silver Springs Road, to register at 334-1100, extension 257...

JANELLE MCCRITE Occupation: Gifts processor at Southeast Missouri State University. Pet peeve: "Self-centered people." The best part of my job is: "Being in the university atmosphere. I enjoy young people." What do you do in your spare time? "Participating in summer ball leagues, camping, walking and being with good friends."...

JACKSON - The Board of Directors of the Cape Girardeau Area Industrial Recruitment Association Monday gave final approval to a contract with its new executive director. The one-year contract with D. Mitch Robinson of Henderson, Ky., calls for an annual salary of $43,500. Robinson will begin his duties May 24...

The Department of Social Services is sponsoring a free eye screening May 26 at the Area Vocational-Technical School, 300 N. Clark, from 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. The exam will be conducted by Bethesda Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology of St. Louis, with assistance from the Division of Social Services' Prevention of Blindness Unit...

JACKSON -- The Jackson School District will realize a savings in interest of more than $200,000 by refinancing a $5.5 million lease-revenue-bond issue. The refinancing proposal was approved Tuesday night by the school board at its regular meeting. The board also heard from a group of parents and high school students who spoke in favor of establishing a girls junior and varsity soccer program next spring, and heard updates on the district's health insurance plan and school budget for 1993-'94...

The Cape Girardeau Public Works Department has planned several activities to commemorate National Public Works Week May 17-21. Emmett Baker, the city's special projects coordinator, said tours of the water plant on East Cape Rock Drive, the recycling center on rear Broadview and the waste-water plant on Third Street can be scheduled with a call to the public works department...

The lead group proposing organized gambling in Cape Girardeau will hold a Friday news conference here, where representatives will reveal plans to develop the city's riverfront to accommodate a riverboat casino. City voters will decide June 8 whether they will sanction riverboat gambling, a measure that passed in a statewide election in November...

DEXTER -- A regional workshop for retired school employees will be held Monday at the Hickory Log restaurant in Dexter. The meeting begins at 10 a.m. and concludes at 2:30 p.m. It is sponsored by the Stoddard County Retired Teachers Association. The workshop, entitled "Enhancing Retirement," will include presentations on health care reform and retirement legislation. Jim Daniels of Poplar Bluff, a member of the Public School Retirement board, will also talk with participants...

Shelley L. Holyfield of Cape Girardeau has been awarded a Regents' Scholarship to attend Southeast Missouri State University during the 1993-1994 academic year. The Regents' Scholarship is awarded to high school seniors who graduate in the top 10 percent of their class and who have achieved an ACT score of 28 or SAT score of 1160 or have been named the valedictorian or salutatorian of their class and who have achieved an ACT score of 25 or SAT score of 1030. ...

A second place ranking at a state DECA competition earned Cape Girardeau Central High School student Mike Enke a trip to the National Career Development Conference in Orlando, Fla. DECA, Distributive Education Clubs of America, is organized through Cape Girardeau's Area Vocational-Technical School for students in marketing education classes...

A number of area students were big winners during the Fourth Annual Missouri Council of Teachers of Mathematics Seventh and Eighth Grade Regional Contest hosted by Cape Central Junior High recently. Top winners included: Brandon Belvin, L.J. Schultz School of Cape Girardeau; Danny Wittenborn, St. Vincent de Paul School of Cape Girardeau; and Cassandra Doherty, Sikeston Junior High...

Eight area residents have received President's scholarships to attend Southeast Missouri State University during the 1993-94 academic year. They are: Summer S. Majors and Casey P. Sheehan of Cape Girardeau, Rodney W. Amos of Jackson, Nicole Wadlington and Todd J. Essner of Scott City, Chris R. Blattel of Chaffee, and Kimberly E. Burford and Erika L. Rose of Benton...

Buz Sutherland, director of the Small Business Development Center at Southeast Missouri State University, will be the featured guest on "University Conversations" Sunday. The 30-minute program can be seen Sunday evenings on local cable access Channel 5 at 7:30 p.m...

"Walking Your Way to Fitness" is the topic of the May Women to Women luncheon. The meeting is scheduled for noon on May 20 in Conference Room A & B of the St. Francis Health and Education Center. Walking not only provides physical and mental benefits (including weight reduction and lowering of cholesterol), but experts agree that it has direct and positive psychological benefits, according to the medical center...

Cape Girardeau Central High Senior Ryan Woods faced a tough choice: attend the United States Military Academy at West Point or the U.S. Air Force Academy. Woods had been accepted at both academies, but West Point's history and tradition won out. He is among 1,000 students selected from about 12,000 applicants for admission to the school...

Workshop on Wheels, sponsored by the human environmental studies department at Southeast Missouri State University and the Area Licensed Providers Association, will present a workshop at 7 p.m. Thursday. The workshop, entitled "science," will be held at Christian School for the Young Years, 735 N. Clark...

A Cape Girardeau man was released from Southeast Missouri Hospital late Tuesday after suffering minor burns in a garage fire. Alford Farrar, 804 N. Fountain, was working on the gas-tank area of a vehicle parked in the garage at the home when the fire started at about 6:40 p.m...

Benjamin R. Schrader, 92, of Cape Girardeau, died Tuesday, May 11, 1993, at Fountainbleau Lodge. He was born July 1, 1900, in Cape Girardeau, son of Anton and Friederike Renne Schrader. He and the former Selma Meyer were married Oct. 18, 1922, in Cape Girardeau. She died May 4, 1980...

JACKSON -- Earl Reitzel, 77, of Jackson, died Monday, May 10, 1993, in a farm tractor accident. He was born Oct. 16, 1915, at Jackson, son of William and Sophia Schille Reitzel. He and Olga Schweer were married Oct. 14, 1939. Reitzel farmed north of Jackson all his life, and from 1953-81 he was also a dairyman. In 1956-57 he was recognized as an outstanding farmer by receiving a Certificate of Merit from Jefferson City for accomplishments in soil conservation...

PERRYVILLE -- Robert L. Rushing, 67, of Perryville, died Tuesday, May 11, 1993, at the John Cochran Veterans Hospital in St. Louis. He was born April 4, 1926, at East St. Louis, Ill., son of Benjamin and Flossie Estella Hancock Rushing. He was married to Leta V. DeClue, July 2, 1977...

CHARLESTON -- Funeral service for Louis Scott of Charleston will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Holy Trinity Church of Deliverance. Bishop James Whitfield will officiate, with burial in Oak Grove Cemetery. Friends may call at Sparks Funeral Home Friday from 7-8 p.m...

CHAFFEE -- Stack Lee McAlister, 79, of Chaffee, died Tuesday, May 11, 1993, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born July 17, 1913, at Portageville, son of James William and Pearl Newhouse McAlister. He and Eva Rose were married Dec. 28, 1934. She died June 9, 1972. He later married Nora Ellen Dalton March 25, 1976. She died Jan. 25, 1987...

MATTHEWS -- Funeral service for Elaine Ward of Matthews will be held at 1 p.m. today at Shelby Funeral Chapel in East Prairie. The Rev. Ernest Brown will officiate, with burial in East Prairie Memorial Park Cemetery. Ward, 77, died Monday, May 10, 1993, at Sells Rest Home...

Otis B. Mouser, 87, of Cape Girardeau, died Tuesday, May 11, 1993, at the Lutheran Home. He was born Oct. 1, 1905, at Miner, son of Benjamin and Della Knighton Mouser. He and Daisey Roxana Stephens were married June 16, 1937, at Sikeston. Mouser was a farm laborer for George Bader in McClure, Ill., retiring in 1965...

COLYERTwin daughters to Mr. and Mrs. Scott Colyer, Jackson Route 1, St. Mary's Health Center in St. Louis, Friday, April 9, 1993. Rachel Leigh was born at 5:19 p.m. and weighed 4 pounds 15 ounces. Melissa Ann was born at 5:21 p.m. and weighed 1 pound 12 ounces. ...

Five students at Cape Girardeau Central High School were omitted from honor rolls submitted to the Southeast Missourian. Kristina Thompson, a junior, is on the A honor roll. Seniors Scott Blank, Brandon Juden and Tara Johnson, and junior Christy Wren are on the B honor roll...

Award-winning quilter Irma Gale Hatcher will present a trunk show and workshop this weekend. The trunk show will be held at 7 p.m. Friday and the workshop is scheduled all day Saturday. Both the show and the workshop are open to the public and will be held at Centenary United Methodist Church, 300 N. Ellis...

A 39-year-old Cape Girardeau County woman remains in critical condition at Southeast Missouri Hospital following an accident Sunday at her home north of Cape Girardeau. Authorities said Karen G. Kyle was injured Sunday after she jumped the swimming pool at a home on County Road 657, about two miles north of the Cape Girardeau city limits...

Gene Hill of Sikeston was speechless when he found out he had won $100,000 Friday by matching all five Missouri Lottery SuperCash numbers. The 70-year-old Hill said he and his wife, Maxine, watched the drawing on television Friday night. "When I play the lottery I usually win a free ticket, so my wife asked me if I had won another ticket," recalled Hill. "I could hardly talk. I couldn't tell her anything for about a minute. I finally said, `We won a little more than a free ticket.'"...

Rural electric programs and rural economic development have always gone hand in hand. Over the years, rural electric programs have quite literally brought our farms, towns, and communities out of the dark.~ Unfortunately, today we have to deal with both urban and federal budget critics who remain in the dark when it comes to the need for these critical programs...

JACKSON -- A boy wearing a bright blue safety helmet rides up to a stop sign on his bicycle, raises his left arm to signal a turn, waits for a small girl on a Big Wheel to pass by and turns safely into traffic. The boy behind him does not come to a complete stop, nor does he signal before turning in front of another child...